Latest Sightings
The sunshine and showers have continued over the weekend, but this has not stopped the reserves usual customers!
A hobby was from Ron Barker yesterday morning. Marsh harriers have been showing well in the main reedbed, as well as the reedbed that can be seen from Raines Observatory. We currently think they have chicks, as the females have been seen bringing food to the nesting sites rather regularly.
The black headed gull colony on the mere is still going strong, with chicks of all sizes, from hatching to fledging, being seen from Discovery Hide. Along with the black headed gulls, we have a few Mediterranean gull nests, as well as common tern nests on the back island, of which now 4/5 have hatched!
The eagle eyed amongst you may also be able to spot the avocet chicks that have been frequenting the back of the mere along with their parents. However, the best place to see the avocets and their young has got to be Tomlinson Hide, and the rest of Woodend Marsh. We currently have 10 pairs with small young, although many of the older fledged young and their parents are still hanging around.
Ron Barker hide remains the most popular place to see the kingfisher pair, as they teach their 3 youngsters how to catch food in the pond. Although this is very exciting, we do ask that the noise be kept to a minimum and to be mindful of others so that as many people as possible have the chance to enjoy this amazing sight.
Janet Kear feeders are still busy with activity, with lots of the surrounding blue tits, great tits and chaffinches taking their fledged young for an easy meal. The waterfowl families are doing well across the site, with the shelduck, mallard, moorhen and coot families in the captive collection thriving, and the greylag and Canada goose families on the canoe safari are growing big and strong.
In other news, the new moth trap is also proving to be a success, and the opening at 10:30am is well worth a visit! A stoat was seen outside Discovery Hide. Again, the oystercatcher chicks on Santa's island are also flourishing, and are best seen from the café veranda.
Image - Avocets
